ICE officer faces federal false-statement charge over Minneapolis shooting incident
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has been charged with lying to investigators about a January shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis.
Federal prosecutors have indicted ICE officer Christian Castro for providing false statements to investigators regarding the January shooting of Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis. The incident occurred during an immigration enforcement operation, and Castro allegedly shot Sosa-Celis in the leg. After Texas Governor refused to promptly sign an extradition warrant, Castro was released from jail, while Minnesota authorities continue to pursue separate assault and false-reporting charges.
Earlier, federal charges against Sosa-Celis and another man were dismissed when video evidence cast doubt on the officers' account, prompting an internal probe. A Justice Department prosecutor who advocated for a civil-rights charge was fired and is now being investigated for possible obstruction of a grand-jury inquiry. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of law-enforcement conduct in immigration raids.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about accountability for federal officers involved in immigration enforcement actions.
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